THE LAST BLOOD SOVEREIGN

CHAPTER 27: THE RITE OF SHARED BLOOD

 

The ancient ritual circle trembled.

Four crimson pillars of light rose from the ground, surrounding Kael, Selene, Caelan, Elara, and Prince Kaelor.

Above them, Arkan remained bound by the final chain.

Beyond him, the colossal eye of Nerath glowed with growing hunger.

The World Eater laughed.

"So many willing sacrifices."

"It has been ages since I witnessed such foolish courage."

Kael ignored him.

He looked at Prince Kaelor instead.

"You know joining this ritual could kill you."

Kaelor nodded calmly.

"I know."

"Then why?"

The prince smiled faintly.

"My entire life, I believed strength meant conquering others."

"But today..."

"I learned that true strength is choosing to protect them."

Kael extended his hand.

Kaelor clasped it firmly.

The crimson circle blazed brighter.

Eldros raised his staff high.

"By the covenant of the Seven Blood Sovereigns..."

"Let your blood become one."

A drop of blood rose from each of the five warriors.

The crimson droplets floated together above the circle.

Then...

They merged into a single radiant crystal.

The cavern shook violently.

Arkan's chains began glowing.

The broken links slowly started repairing themselves.

Nerath's laughter faded.

"No..."

"You cannot restore the seal."

The World Eater slammed his massive claw against the ancient barrier.

BOOOOM!

A shockwave swept through the cavern.

Cracks spread across the ritual circle.

Selene staggered.

Caelan dropped to one knee.

Elara coughed blood.

Even Kael struggled to remain standing.

Eldros shouted,

"Do not lose your resolve!"

"The ritual draws strength from your hearts!"

Kael closed his eyes.

Faces flashed through his mind.

His parents.

The people of Black Hollow.

The child he had saved in the City of Ashes.

The citizens who had entrusted him with their hope.

He opened his eyes.

The crimson crystal exploded into thousands of glowing fragments.

Each fragment entered one of the five participants.

A warm current flowed through Kael's body.

For the first time...

He could feel the emotions of the others.

Selene's unwavering loyalty.

Caelan's fearless courage.

Elara's quiet determination.

Kaelor's deep regret.

Their hearts had become connected.

Nerath roared.

"I refuse to be caged again!"

The World Eater gathered an enormous sphere of black fire within his jaws.

The cavern darkened.

Even the ancient runes began to crumble.

Arkan's eyes widened.

"Kael!"

"Stop him!"

Without hesitation, Kael stepped beyond the ritual circle.

Selene gasped.

"The ritual isn't complete!"

"I know."

"But if that attack lands..."

"...there'll be no ritual left to finish."

Kael lifted his crimson sword.

The four others instinctively reached out.

Golden, silver, blue, and crimson streams of energy flowed from them into Kael.

Their powers united.

The Blood Sovereign Blade transformed.

Its crimson edge became surrounded by four additional auras.

Gold for courage.

Silver for hope.

Blue for wisdom.

Black for redemption.

Kael smiled.

"So this..."

"...is the true meaning of shared blood."

He pointed the sword toward Nerath.

The World Eater unleashed his attack.

A river of black destruction surged across the cavern.

Kael took one step forward.

His voice echoed like thunder.

"Second Form..."

The entire mountain began shaking.

Even the heavens outside darkened.

"...Heaven's Crimson Divide!"

He swung.

A brilliant cross-shaped slash burst from the blade.

It carried the combined strength of all five warriors.

The crimson light collided with Nerath's black flames.

For one breathless moment...

Neither side moved.

Then—

BOOOOOOOOOOM!!

The explosion shattered half the cavern.

Ancient pillars collapsed.

The mountain split open from its peak to its foundation.

Outside, the skies above the Whispering Mountains glowed crimson.

Villages hundreds of miles away looked up in terror.

When the light finally faded...

Kael remained standing.

Breathing heavily.

His sword was cracked.

His armour was broken.

But Nerath's attack...

Had been stopped.

The World Eater stared at Kael in disbelief.

"Impossible..."

"A mortal should never possess such strength."

Kael slowly raised his broken blade.

"No."

"Not a mortal."

"I am..."

"...the last Blood Sovereign."

At that exact moment, the final chain around Arkan blazed with renewed life.

Its cracks vanished.

The seal was restored.

Nerath let out a roar so powerful it shook the entire continent.

"You may imprison me today..."

"...but the Eighth Seal is already breaking."

His crimson eye slowly closed.

Darkness swallowed the enormous claw.

One by one, the ancient chains tightened once more.

Silence returned to the cavern.

Arkan smiled weakly.

"You've done it..."

Then his body began to glow.

Kael rushed forward.

"Arkan?"

The Guardian looked at him with pride.

"My duty..."

"...is finally complete."

His crimson armour dissolved into countless particles of light.

They drifted toward Kael.

"The First Guardian's inheritance..."

"...now belongs to its rightful king."

The light entered Kael's body.

A surge of ancient memories flooded his mind.

Centuries of battles.

Forgotten techniques.

The names of every Blood Sovereign.

And one final revelation.

Kael saw Emperor Malachar...

Not standing beside Nerath.

But fighting against something even greater.

His eyes flew open in shock.

"Impossible..."

"My enemy..."

"...may not be the true enemy after all."